Page 8 - Annual Report 2014/15

Environment and Biodiversity

Our green open spaces are vital areas of green infrastructure, helping our communities adapt to a
changing climate. Many of our sites are in urban areas, so have signifcant value as soakaways for food
prevention, balancing rising urban temperatures and reducing pollution.
As well as environmental benefts, we want our parks and green spaces to be as rich in biodiversity as
possible, so we manage them in ways to create great habitats for nature to thrive. Since many of our sites
have had an industrial or development history, it can take a long time to establish the right conditions.
But nature is amazing and resilient – with the right care and attention, it will develop and fourish.
This year we opened Britain’s frst bug reserve at Canvey Wick, extended our ownership at Oliver Road
Lagoons and our management approach continued to bring benefts to wildlife across our existing sites.

Canvey Wick Hailed by Natural

In September 2014, Canvey Wick, a Site of Special Scientifc
Interest (SSSI) on Canvey Island in Essex, was offcially opened England as
to the public by Steve Backshall, BAFTA-winning naturalist, writer,
television presenter and Vice President of Buglife. a “brownfeld

Canvey Wick was a brownfeld site that was abandoned in 1973 and reclaimed by nature. rainforest” due
It is now one of the top fve sites in the UK for rare and endangered species, due to the
scrub, fower-rich grasslands and bare sandy soils which are excellent habitats. Over 1,400
species of insects live on the site, including around 30 endangered species and three that to its importance
were thought to be extinct. The Shrill carder bee, Five-banded weevil wasp and Scarce
emerald damselfy call this site their home. as a haven
It took 10 years to aquire this 19 ha former industrial site as a nature reserve but now the
Land Trust has secured vital funding to protect it in perpetuity and has appointed the RSPB for wildlife.
and Buglife to manage the site, enhancing it for wildlife and people; improving access, paths
and signage.

WINNER

Best Space
for Nature
© Sam Ashfeld

© Claudia Watts © James Bailey

Annual Report / the Land Trust 2015 8